Inkosi Mhlabunzima Maphumulo House: We wish to inform the people of KwaZulu-Natal that a team of provincial inspectors attached to the Road Traffic Inspectorate and Public Transport Service’s Operation Shanela started the inspection of the scholar transport fleet quietly on Friday and throughout the weekend.
This team of inspectors is visiting more than 26 satellite stations throughout all corners of the province.
Our main focus is to ensure the safety of about 77,000 pupils in close to 400 schools.
The inspection is focusing on driver permits, tires, brakes, seatbelts, suspension, and the entire condition of the vehicle.
So far, the total of 198 fleets have been inspected and the breakdown is as follows:
· 143 buses
· 48 minibuses
· 7 Midibuses
We commend service providers of scholar transport who have ensured the roadworthiness of their fleet.
Based on the report from Public Transport Enforcement Service’s Operation Shanela, a total of 63 fleets have failed the inspection and the breakdown is as follows:
· 43 Buses
· 18 Minibuses
· 2 Midibuses
The owners have been instructed to attend to all mechanical failures as stipulated in the contract with the Department of Transport.
We wish to confirm that the inspection will proceed until the re-opening of schools and beyond.
RTI and Operation Shanela will work with other law enforcement agencies and traffic departments in various municipalities moving forward.
They will do spot checks and sustain their visibility that we all witnessed during the festive season.
In addition, we will announce more safety measures for private scholar transport once all consultations have been finalized with key stakeholders.
As we announced toward the end of last year, we will be introducing reforms such as strengthening legislation governing the private scholar transport industry, with clear provisions on driver vetting, vehicle standards, and operational oversight.
Ends
Issued by the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements
63 scholar transport services have failed the inspection in KZN https://t.co/bllnRy2cCQ#ArriveAlive #ScholarTransport @KZNTransport pic.twitter.com/WaPZLTITcf
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) January 12, 2026
